Home video company Shout Factory's horror movie division Scream Factory is releasing a 4K version of Slumber Party Massacre and its sequel.
As reported by Collider, Scream Factory announced the two movies would join its ultra-HD 4K collection and will officially release date on Feb. 21, 2023. The double feature set is currently available for pre-order and will include two exclusive posters, available while supplies last. The Slumber Party Massacre DVDs include director commentary, interviews, and a photo gallery. The Scream Factory collection has plenty of other horror classics for sale, including more obscure and forgotten titles. All of them are remastered in high definition and include exclusive bonus features.
Slumber Party Massacre was released in 1982 as a response to the rising subgenre of slasher films. The plot follows a high school senior named Trish who throws a slumber party only for the event to be crashed by a mysterious killer armed with a power drill. By the end of the film, only three characters remain alive.
The History of Slumber Party Massacre
Feminist activist Rita Mae Brown originally wrote the film as a parody of slashers. However, producers repurposed the script as a straightforward iteration of the genre instead. The creative team behind the film has openly talked about the creative conflict between themselves and the studio as the movie went on to receive mixed reviews, but later became a cult classic in the horror fandom. A remake was released in 2021, earning plenty of positive responses from both fans and critics.
The sequel, Slumber Party Massacre II, was released in 1987 and fully embraced the original's campy tone. The film follows a survivor of the first movie, who is stalked by a bizarre reincarnation of the original murderer. The movie's villain, the "Driller Killer," wields a drill-guitar and sings rock songs as he terrorizes the main cast. Similar to Freddy Krueger, the Driller Killer is able to enter dreams and hurt people in their sleep. The sequel is supernatural whereas the original was more grounded, embracing the comedic absurdity of the situation. Similarly to the first film, it received mixed reviews but is now celebrated as a cult classic.
While the 4K DVD set will not release until February 2023, both movies are currently available for streaming on Shudder.
Source: Collider